Some Plymouth High students defy bomb threat, go to classes today

Attendance sparse, police presence not, as school day begins

Attendance sparse, police presence not, as school day begins

PLYMOUTH Â? Traffic at some of the cityÂ?s busier intersections was light this morning, as few students went to classes at Plymouth High School.

A bomb threat for today, made earlier this week, kept the vast majority home Â? whether by choice or parental mandate.

Plymouth Assistant Police Chief David Bacon was among the first law enforcement officers to arrive early this morning. He confirmed the school was searched again last night by police, who used a canine to assist.

"Nothing suspicious" was found, Bacon said.

Additional officers patrolled the parking lot, where about 50 vehicles dotted the usually full student parking lot. Only the front lot, where staff members park, was full early this morning.

Andy Langdon, a sophomore, and his buddy, Andy Sanchez, a junior, werenÂ?t letting the bomb threat keep them away from important classes, though.

Both said they had chemistry to attend to today, and neither was concerned about the threat.

Sanchez said his parents had told him that the high school was "probably the safest place in Plymouth to be today" because of the police presence and steps officials had taken to ensure student safety.

The threat was found Tuesday in a message written on a bathroom stall in the high school. It warned that a bomb would be detonated at noon today at the school.

Officials contacted police, met with faculty on Wednesday, and on Thursday told the entire student body over the public address system of the threat. Letters from PHS principal James Condon also were sent home Thursday afternoon with students to parents and guardians.

Students were restricted to entering the school through certain doors this morning, and were told not to take large carry-alls or backpacks in with them. Condon also prohibited students from entering the school before 7:15 a.m.

The principal had said Thursday that attendance today would be "optional" and students would not be penalized if they had parental permission slips to be absent.